OPPORTUNITY MAPPING.

Most system leaders are aware of the practice of political mapping, but "opportunity mapping," while lesser known, is equally significant. Opportunity Mapping describes the process of assessing the environment and evaluating what is within an individual's or institution's "circle of influence" versus "circle of concern." As Stephen Covey observed, identifying circle of influence opportunities enables us as leaders to maintain a proactive focus, versus a reactive focus, which accompanies dwelling on the ever-present circle of concern. Opportunity mapping is not a denial of reality or a license for reckless behavior. Rather, leaders who map opportunities continually identify, create, and develop strategic growth positions (pivots) for themselves, their team members and their institutions. When deployed most effectively, opportunity mapping enables leaders to cultivate both health and wellness (by limiting distractions and helping themselves and those they lead to maintain a 'right now' perspective) as well as strategic advantage (preparing the leader and institution to maximize future opportunities). This is especially important for us as leaders when we are considering environments, situations and circumstances with seemingly limited and or shrinking opportunities. In leadership contexts such as these, it is often easy to lose hope and focus. Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Mandela are two examples of leaders who leveraged opportunity mapping as a catalyst to transformative change. Abraham Lincoln, while lacking access to formal education as a youth, was notable for his voracious program of informal learning. This brought him initially into legal practice, and later, provided the foundation of his renown breadth of knowledge, humor and political acumen. Nelson Mandela, while serving a 27-year prison sentence, obtained an LLB - the equivalent of an American Juris Doctorate (JD). Due to irregular conditions and frequent suspensions of studying privileges, while he began these studies in 1962, he did not complete his course of study until months prior to his release in 1989. Once, in the midst of his study privileges being temporarily revoked for 4-years, Mandela embarked on a self-developed learning plan that included copious reading of fictional novels (the only reading genre he was allowed access to at the time), which he credited as providing him with a refined understanding of Afrikaans culture that (by his own account) benefitted him tremendously when he later led a divided South Africa into and through a period of reconciliation and healing. Challenging times call for leaders who are seekers of hope and excavators of promise. Anyone can find a problem or dwell on one; it takes leadership to identify solutions. #LeadByMappingOpportunities